Kirby, nicknamed "Mini Messi" by former England Women's manager Mark Sampson during the 2015 World Cup, has established herself as a key figure in new Lionesses boss Phil Neville's team.

She will collect her award at the FWA awards dinner in London on May 10 and wrote on Twitter: "Thank you to all those who had voted for me, and to the @theofficialfwa for introducing a women's award, shows how far women's football has come."

Her England colleagues Lucy Bronze, Izzy Christiansen and Jordan Nobbs were also on the shortlist.